Gallery’s status the most precarious for Rams

News, notes and observations Wednesday from Raiders coach Tom Cable and the open locker room session:
— Reading between the lines, it looks like the most significant injury this week belongs to left guard Robert Gallery, one of several players to miss practice as the Raiders prepared to face the St. Louis Rams.

Actually, you didn’t have to read between the lines quite as much, because Cable deviated slightly from recent policy and provided some details.

“He’s got a pretty good strain,’’ Cable said. “This is one of those things we’ll see in 48 to 72 hours and see where he’s at. Fortunately, those guys on the line of scrimmage, if they worked on Friday, they could play on Sunday.’’

The fact that the Raiders released Yamon Figurs and signed an offensive lineman is an indication they’re preparing for Gallery being inactive.

— Quarterback Jason Campbell became the second player in two days (Zach Miller was the other) to suggest the Raiders may have been “overconfident,’’ remarkable considering their record over the last seven years.

“That game taught us a lot because we were getting some good press clippings, and this game here, I think it pretty much humbled our team and made us get back to know what we have to do to get where we want to go,’’ Campbell said. “We have to go out there and earn it. We have to fight for what we want.’’

How is it possible the Raiders could be overconfident? In a way they’re no different from much of the fan base which thought they had a winner and now are willing to sell their beloved team for a nickel after a bad opener.

“Human nature, you know?,’’ Cable said. “It’s easy to change the mood or the attitude of a human being. All you have to do is give them some sugar and they’re sweet and happy. Talk about ‘em bad for two minutes and they think the world’s coming to an end.

“We haven’t done anything for us to say, `We’re all that.’ We think we’re headed in the right direction, but it comes down to winning and achieving.’’

That’s a good sign for Bush, although he’d still have to be cleared medically to play in a game 20 days after surgery.

Cable wasn’t going to get caught up in a discussion about splitting the carries between McFadden and Bush, figuring there will be plenty for both.

“I just think we get those two guys going and go play,’’ Cable said. “I don’t think it matters who goes out first or any of that. I just think, let’s get to work. We need ‘em both and they need to play a lot.’’

Asomugha’s groin strain has been an off and on thing the past two years. On most days, he’s still being stretched as practice begins.

— Cable warned that all the Raiders ills have not been caused by the offensive line.

“Let’s not dump on that group,’’ Cable said. “I mean, that would be stupidity by all of us. We ran the ball with some consistency. We’ve got to clean up the sacks early in the first two drives. We do that, you look at it and say, `What, that really isn’t that bad for them.’

But because of that issue on the first two drives, it’s not aceeptable. I’d like to see us run the ball and continue to run the ball on that pace and improve from there, because I think we’ll be pretty good at that.’’

— The Raiders had two sacks against Tennessee but Cable thought the Raiders pass rush was negated more by game circumstances than by anything the Titans did.

Quarterback Vince Young was 13 of 17 for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and Cable counted seven bootlegs _ meaning there were only a handful of passes to get a true pass rush.

“We didn’t make them throw the football enough to sit around and say, `Let’s evaluate the pass rush,’’ Cable said.

The Rams and rookie quarterback Sam Bradford should offer more opportunities to rush the passer. Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, threw 55 passes in his debut, completing 32 for 53 for 253 yards.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo pointed out the figure was inflated by a pair of two-minute drills late in the game where Bradford threw 19 passes _ two more than Young threw the entire game against Oakland.

— Bradford has never been to the Coliseum, but said running back Steven Jackson told him what to expect. Jackson played in the Coliseum on Dec. 17, 2006, rushing for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 20-0 win.

“He said it’s actually pretty fun,’’ Bradford said by conference call. “He said it’s a nasty crowd, they’re violent, they yell at you. But those are the types of crowds that make it enjoyable to play. I’m looking forward to the challenge.’’

— Cable on the release of Figurs one game after he returned both kickoffs and punts.

“We just felt we needed to take care of our team right now,’’ Cable said. “We felt like when we did it there was a chance that would happen.’’

Huh?

So the Raiders didn’t think Figurs was good enough to be around for Week 2, but that he was still their best bet to return kicks in Week 1?

If Higgins and Ford struggle, at some point the Raiders will have to get around to Nick Miller.

Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer

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A couple days before the Titans game Figurs is mentioned as a dynamic return specialist, who can break it open blah blah.

But every return he had he would tentatively run petrified of fumbling the ball, and all the Raiders blockers ahead of him would all look back “in case” Figurs fumbled it.

A few days later, Figurs is mentioned as a necessary cut to make the team better.

Naturally it does, addition by subtraction, but it’s damning that due diligence by Raiders coaches/GM isnt being done like when the original 53 man cuts had to be made. They’re like stumbling in the blind with everything going on….Campbell tipping off snaps, etc etc.

McClain played fine, had a nice tackle for a loss, and played about as well as a rookie MLB in his first game play for the leagues worst run defense against the league’s best RB.

Still a shoe-in for an all-rookie team award, and on the short list for defensive ROY.

J Hill

Pears *puke*

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Sad

bcz24

Truthfully its a pretty safe bet to call ANY Raider first round pick a bust… Outside of Nnamdi whos the last first rounder to make a probowl? Who is the last first rounder to make a tangible difference in our team enough to say they helped win a game?

El Tato

# bcz24 Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 8:55 am

me too, I am 5′6 and not a football plyer
***
Eh I have the size to be an olineman, but definitely not the speed or strength. I am 6′5 300lbs. But I aint no Bruce Campbell thats for sure…

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dont make me wrong, I believe you. I just wanted to let all you know how much I think our linemans suck. You are a big man

I would agree with #390 if we didnt lose by 25 points on Sunday… with the Titans all but quitting in the second half. They could have beaten us by 40 if they chose to. Im not ready to say McClain is a bust either but I think we should make SOME of the tackles and at least TRY to let our QB walk out of the stadium under his own power.

—-

exactly, this is why it’s the end of the world. The Titans threw everything at our ill-prepared poorly-coached team in the first half, busted us open like idiots, and then duly played half-hearted rest of the game like pre-season game 4.

rr
surely you jest.. all the pundits and draft evaluaters who get payed for what they do thought/think mclain is the real deal. and you come along with your evaluation in one game!!! please give us a break dude…the man played on national championship team and was a star. you need to look in the mirror, i sm wrong i shouldn’t feed you trolls

J Hill

I still think we should dump Desmond Bryant & Hiram Eugene

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Bryant instead of Alford?

RaiderRockstar

in all fairness, S&B thinks McClain should get a pass this year because he’s a rookie MLB playing behind a DL with no NT.

Why didn’t we get Cody in RD2 again?

we got Houston and now maybe our most complete player (ShoNasty) is on the bench

Teneessee is a better team than 80% teams in the NFL, and also have the best RB the NFL has seen in years.

Thats what I want to think. Our season starts this weekend.

Dirtiest Raccoon

La Milicia Negra Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Raccoon…

I agree, the ZBS works great if the one in charge of it has total power of it..

anyone here seems to forget that when Cable was in charge of the o-line in Atlanta, they had the best run offense ever, and a helluva o-line

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Very true.

J Hill

If Jason Campbell and Tyvon Branch have good game this weekend, we win going away.

RaiderRockstar

is Jwigg a “troll” for calling out Branch?

Dirtiest Raccoon

r8eray Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Give the kid (McClain) a chance, he’s only played one game.
We gave JaBusto years, DMC years, DHB 1 year, Huff years etc…..

************

And what did we learn from that?

Dirtiest Raccoon

Mornin RR, J Hill, R8, NATION.

El Tato

If we loss against Rams and Cards, who I think are not better football teams and we start 0-3, then we all will know we will suck again this year

RaiderRockstar

Cable must be a “troll” for cutting Figurs, too.

Dirtiest Raccoon

Dirtiest Raccoon Says:
September 15th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Gotta run, but hey PEEPS/NATION we need to start a “Help RAIDERROCKSTAR’s new baby Boy get started right” fund/cache. Where the Raider Nation can send RAIDER, and Hunting gear to Lil RRS, and help out RR, and his Wife!

Hey Vegas, Dell, hook it up.

I’ll check back later on the progress of the event.

SOMEONE please re-post this on the next Blog.

Dirtiest Raccoon

El Tato Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 9:14 am
If we loss against Rams and Cards, who I think are not better football teams and we start 0-3, then we all will know we will suck again this year

***************

Wow, man, that is DEEP!

J Hill

We should have beat Tenn!

They are not that good.

Turnovers, penalties, bad QB play, bad S play.

Shoot, we woulda lost to da lambs last week the way we played.

RaiderRockstar

El Tato, revised

If we loss against Rams and Cards, who I think are not better football teams and we start 0-3, then we all will know we [can win the next 11 games and still be crowned AFC West Champs!]

Just Fire Baby

Why didn’t we get Cody in RD2 again?

******************************

Is he even going to be active this week? Already had a knee surgery, at 22 and 350 pounds.

Not a good sign.

Dirtiest Raccoon

RaiderRockstar Says:
September 16th, 2010 at 9:16 am
El Tato, revised

If we loss against Rams and Cards, who I think are not better football teams and we start 0-3, then we all will know we [can win the next 11 games and still be crowned AFC West Champs!]

****************

YEEEEEE HHWWAAAAAAAAW…..

Tell em RR!

RaiderRockstar

We should have beat Tenn!

They are not that good.

Turnovers, penalties, bad QB play, bad S play.

Shoot, we woulda lost to da lambs last week the way we played.

***

Jhill is right (take my temperature – did I just say that?)

no excuses. we beat ourselves. I’m glad we played the Titans instead of the Bills, Lions, Browns, Bucs or Rams in WK1!

Morning Racc’s,
In two weeks we’ll be 2-1 and all this negativity will come to an end…maybe!

J Hill

when Cable was in charge of the o-line in Atlanta, they had the best run offense ever, and a helluva o-line

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Very true.

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Excuse me fellas, but I think a guy named Mike Vick had a little more to do with that than Cable!

But, I’ll roll with it for now. Hire Cable as the Oline coach!

Just Fire Baby

Raccoon,

I offered to special rush order the new must-read children books from BO and the first lady, but got crickets from the future father and the semi-pro’s.

RaiderRockstar

good morning Dirty

how u doing today man ???

r8rwill

big john henderson played well sunday. alford looks like he can help us, and shaunnessy is getting better every game.. now if we can get routt out, and huff to hit and tackle, promote s brown from the ps. we will have a top tier defense, i’ll ride with that..

“Help RAIDERROCKSTAR’s new baby Boy get started right”
______________________
RRS – please tell me you at least considered the name “Tatum”

J Hill

If we loss against Rams and Cards, who I think are not better football teams and we start 0-3, then we all will know we will suck again this year

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ya think

RaiderRockstar

alford looks like he can help us

***

Jhill, thoughts ???

RNOraiderFan

RR’s evauation of McClain did not come from one game. He and I both watched him play with Alabama. We both saw the same thing then that we are seeing now. It was also evident during the preseason. RR is right, #55=#52, but is less passionate about the game and the fans. At least Kirk was cool with the fans and at least Kirk didn’t think his Shat didn’t stink. I would rather have Kirk still on the team and wish we would of drafted a Olinemen.

RaiderRockstar

please tell me you at least considered the name “Tatum”

***

I’m too young man. I never got to see Jack play in live games. just those Commitment to Excellence and 3 Super Bowl set DVD’s I got for Christmas one year

don’t care for that as a first name … and you know wifey had some say 😛

LA to TheBay

Deep within the bowels of the Legion of Doom (Oakland Raiders Headquarters – Alameda, CA), the Supreme Commander of the Silver & Black is verbally castrating his Head Coach, Tom Cable, over his decision to cut Kick and Punt Return Specialist Yamon Figurs…..

Al: You’re going to do what??

Cable: Sir, Yamon has to go, he just can’t hang on to the ball.

Al: He has explosiveness, Todd. He has the ability to stretch the field and make the Big Play! Just get the young man some Stick Em.

Cable: Mr. Davis, Stick Em has been banned for thir–

Al(into intercom): Herrera, where are my cheeseburgers??

Herrera (from intercom): I’m in the drive through now, sir.

Al (into intercom): I value your Commitment to Excellence, John.

Herrera (from intercom): Sir, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. You know, ever since bringing me on board, you’ve really been like a father to me. I remember my dad used to drink pretty heavily and well–

Click.

Al (to Cable): Listen, Sable, your job is on the line here… if you don’t get me a return man pronto, I’ve got Hugh Jackman ready to replace you. He would at least know that Figurs’ 40 yard dash time of (flipping through papers) four-point-three is blazing speed. BLAZING. He’s no Bo Jackson, but…

Cable: Mr. Davis, Ford ran a four-two-eight.

Al: (inaudible)

Cable: Mr. Davis, are you OK?

Al: Yes, of course, I am. I just need to be changed now. I had almost forgotten about that 40 of his. Ok, Tim, you’ll have your way. Ok to cut Figurs and put Kobe Ford back there.